"FOREIGNERS ARE FOOLS" Frances Durkin, as she turned back into the darkness of the room, desperately schooled herself to calmness.

She warned herself that, above all, she must remain clear-headed and collected, and act coolly and decisively, when the moment for action arrived.
But as the seconds slipped by, and the silence remained unbroken, a shred of forlorn hope came back to her.

Each moment meant more assured safety to her husband--he, at least, was getting away unscathed and unsuspected.

And that left her almost satisfied.
She still waited and listened.

Perhaps, after all, the Prince had taken his departure.